# Is "Certain Prey" by John Sandford a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Certain Prey by John Sandford (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1999) is identified by: First edition, first printing from G.P. US G.P.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First edition, first printing from G.P. Putnam's Sons (New York, 1999), identified by a full number line on the copyright page reading 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 (later impressions drop the low digits, so a third printing reads 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10)
- Issued in quarter cloth over boards with a gilt "JS" device and gilt spine lettering, in a pictorial dust jacket that should retain its printed price to the flap
- Tenth Lucas Davenport Prey novel
- Publisher imprint reads G.P. Putnam's Sons
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | John Sandford |
| Publisher | G.P. Putnam's Sons |
| Year | 1999 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First edition, first printing from G.P. Putnam's Sons (New York, 1999), identified by a… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First edition, first printing from G.P. Putnam's Sons (New York, 1999), identified by a full number line on the copyright page reading 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 (later impressions drop the low digits, so a third printing reads 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10). Issued in quarter cloth over boards with a gilt "JS" device and gilt spine lettering, in a pictorial dust jacket that should retain its printed price to the flap. Tenth Lucas Davenport Prey novel.

## Is this the true first?
US G.P. Putnam's Sons is the true first edition; confirm the first printing by the low "1" on the number line, not merely by the words "First Edition."

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No significant book-club edition issue for the first printing; the number line settles the impression.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Certain Prey* by John Sandford a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/certain-prey
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.